Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G23AS00384

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit."

Who is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is G23AS00384.

What type of award will be made?

The award will be made as a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement generally indicates that USGS expects to have substantial involvement in the project during performance, compared with a standard grant where the recipient typically leads with less agency participation.

What program is this opportunity associated with?

This opportunity is structured through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, which is a network of partnerships that supports applied research, technical assistance, and education tied to public land and natural resource priorities.

Which CESU unit is referenced in this announcement?

The opportunity specifically references the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit.

What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number and category?

The Assistance Listing (CFDA) is 15.808, and the work falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category.

What is the main focus of the project?

The project focuses on modeling the feasibility of eradicating or suppressing brown treesnakes (BTS) within fenced conservation areas using a multi-faceted control program.

What does "modeling the feasibility" mean in this context?

It means developing or applying quantitative models to evaluate whether BTS populations can be driven to very low levels or eliminated entirely inside enclosed management units, and estimating how different control tools might work together to achieve those outcomes.

What does "multi-faceted control program" imply for the modeling work?

It implies the modeling should consider integrated approaches rather than a single tactic, evaluating combinations of control and detection methods under realistic operational constraints.

What types of control or detection methods might the modeling consider?

The description indicates the analysis would likely consider combinations of methods such as trapping strategies, toxicant-based approaches, detector dog surveillance, barriers and fence integrity, and other removal and detection techniques, and how those tools perform together.

Why is fencing emphasized in the project description?

The work is explicitly focused on fenced conservation areas and enclosed management units, meaning the modeling is intended to evaluate eradication or suppression outcomes within areas where a fence or barrier helps define and protect the management boundary.

How does restoration factor into the purpose of the project?

A central purpose is to help identify restoration potential once BTS abundance is reduced. The modeling is meant to inform what ecological recovery could be possible in fenced areas after snake pressure is lowered, and what level of control is needed to make restoration actions viable.

What kinds of decisions is the research intended to support?

By linking predicted BTS suppression outcomes to restoration implications, the project is positioned to support management planning, prioritization of fenced sites, and decisions about where investments in control and subsequent restoration could yield the greatest ecological return.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is restricted to organizations that are already participating partners in the Pacific Northwest CESU Program.

Is this opportunity open to all universities or nonprofits?

No. The announcement states it is not broadly open to all universities or nonprofits unless they are formal CESU partners within the specified CESU region (Pacific Northwest CESU).

What is the maximum award amount available?

The award ceiling is $62,500, which indicates the maximum amount available for a single award under this announcement.

When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on May 23, 2023.

What was the original closing date?

The original closing date was June 23, 2023.

How long was the application window based on the dates provided?

Based on the creation date (May 23, 2023) and the original closing date (June 23, 2023), the application window was one month.

What species is being targeted in this project?

The targeted invasive predator is the brown treesnake (BTS).

What outcome is the modeling trying to evaluate inside fenced areas?

The modeling is intended to evaluate whether BTS populations can be suppressed to very low levels or eradicated entirely within fenced conservation areas, and what integrated control strategies could realistically achieve that.

How is this opportunity described in terms of overall intent?

Overall, it supports targeted, management-relevant research aimed at improving decision-making for invasive predator control in conservation settings, with an emphasis on feasibility modeling for eradication and suppression within fenced units and connecting those results to restoration potential.